DOH to Observe National Substance Abuse Recovery Month; Suicide Prevention Week

The Open House will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, September 7th, 2011, at Barbel Plaza on St. Thomas and from 10 a.m. to noon both on Thursday, September 8th, 2011, at Charles Harwood Annex on St. Croix and Wednesday, September 14, 2011, at the Morris F. de Castro Clinic on St. John.

Nationwide, September is Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month and the week of September 4-10, 2011, is Suicide Prevention Week with Saturday, September 10, 2011, observed as Suicide Prevention Day. Locally, Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. has proclaimed the entire month of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

“Suicide is one of the most disruptive and tragic events a family and a community can experience,” de Jongh said in the issued Proclamation. “The Virgin Islands joins the other States in the effort to not only prevent suicides, but to ultimately reduce the rate of suicide both in the Nation and in the Territory.”

Statistics show that roughly 50 percent of people who die by suicide use a firearm, and guns stored in the house. Additionally, about 4.6 million people in the United States are survivors of suicide or people who have lost a loved one to suicide.

De Jongh said in the proclamation that public awareness of this terrifying problem is the key to preventing further suffering and loss of life and the risk for human self-destruction can be reduced through awareness, education and treatment.

On Tuesday Dr. Jerome thanked the Health Department’s mental health and substance abuse employees for their work with the public, noting that National Recovery Month not only honors people in recovery from substance disorders, but those who provide treatment and recovery services, and promotes the need for treatment access and long-term recovery.

“Sadly, there are many people nationally and in the Virgin islands in need of treatment that are unable or unwilling to receive it for a variety of reasons,” Dr. Jerome said. “A lack of education and/or treatment too often leads to something horrific like suicide. We encourage all residents to come to the Open House and learn about the services at the Department of Health available to them or their family members.”

This year’s theme is “Recovery Benefits Everyone!”

Doris Hepburn, Director of the Department of Health’s Division of Mental Health, Alcoholism and Drug Dependency Services, will lead discussions during Recovery Month on suicide prevention among other topics.

“Abusers of drugs and alcohol are often diagnosed with depression and more apt, without treatment, to take their own lives,” she said. “Thus, our exhibits, presentations, group discussions and other activities will not only focus on recovery but on the viable topic of suicide prevention.”

A full list of activities is available by calling 773-1311 x 3035 or visit www.healthvi.org:

September 7, 2011 

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open House, 1st Floor, Barbel Plaza-St. Thomas

September 8, 2011

• 10 a.m. to 12 noon Open House, Charles Harwood Annex

September 9, 2011

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Community Outreach, Country Area-St. Thomas
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Community Outreach, Sunny Isle-St. Croix

September 12, 2011 

• 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. STT Lecture: (women only): “Substance Abusing Women”, 
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. STX Community Outreach, JFK Housing Community

September 13, 2011 

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Display Exhibit – Drug/Alcohol Recovery; Suicide Prevention
  Kingshill Post Office, St. Croix

September 14, 2011

• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Open House, Morris F. DeCastro Clinic, St. John

September 20, 2011

• 9 a.m. to 1p.m. Community Outreach – Frederiksted Housing Community
  Marley Housing/Harrigan Housing Community

September 23, 2011 

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Community Outreach; Tutu Park Mall, St. Thomas

To learn more about drug and alcohol addiction or suicide prevention, visit the Suicide Prevention Resource Center at www.sprc.org or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at www.samhsa.gov.

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